boston massacre
8.4(A) analyze causes of the American Revolution, including the Proclamation of 1763, the Intolerable Acts, the Stamp Act, mercantilism, lack of representation in Parliament, and British economic policies following the French and Indian War
Trouble in Massachusetts
How did the American colonists react to the Boston Massacre?
Protests continued to flare in the colonies, making British officials nervous. In 1768 they sent word to Britain that the colonies were on the brink of rebellion—a rejection of British authority. Parliament sent troops to Boston. As angry colonists jeered, the "redcoats" set up camp in the center of the city.
For many colonists, this British act went too far. The colonists were already convinced that the British had passed laws that violated colonial rights. Now Britain had sent an army to occupy, or take control of, colonial cities.
To make matters worse, the soldiers in Boston acted rudely. The redcoats, who were mostly poor men, earned little pay. Some stole from local shops and got into fights with colonists. Also, in their off-hours, the soldiers competed for jobs that Bostonians wanted.
Protests continued to flare in the colonies, making British officials nervous. In 1768 they sent word to Britain that the colonies were on the brink of rebellion—a rejection of British authority. Parliament sent troops to Boston. As angry colonists jeered, the "redcoats" set up camp in the center of the city.
For many colonists, this British act went too far. The colonists were already convinced that the British had passed laws that violated colonial rights. Now Britain had sent an army to occupy, or take control of, colonial cities.
To make matters worse, the soldiers in Boston acted rudely. The redcoats, who were mostly poor men, earned little pay. Some stole from local shops and got into fights with colonists. Also, in their off-hours, the soldiers competed for jobs that Bostonians wanted.
Tension in the street
On March 5, 1770, violence erupted. A fight broke out between some Bostonians and soldiers. As British officers tried to calm the crowd, a man shouted, "We did not send for you. We will not have you here. We'll get rid of you, we'll drive you away!"
The angry townspeople surged forward. They began throwing sticks and stones at the soldiers. "Come on, you rascals, you bloody backs, you lobster scoundrels, fire, if you dare," someone in the crowd shouted.
After one soldier was knocked down, the nervous redcoats did fire. They killed five colonists. According to accounts, Crispus Attucks, a dockworker who was part African and part Native American, became the first casualty of the American Revolution. One Bostonian cried: "Are the inhabitants to be knocked down in the streets? Are they to be murdered . . . ?" The colonists called the tragic encounter "the Boston Massacre."
The angry townspeople surged forward. They began throwing sticks and stones at the soldiers. "Come on, you rascals, you bloody backs, you lobster scoundrels, fire, if you dare," someone in the crowd shouted.
After one soldier was knocked down, the nervous redcoats did fire. They killed five colonists. According to accounts, Crispus Attucks, a dockworker who was part African and part Native American, became the first casualty of the American Revolution. One Bostonian cried: "Are the inhabitants to be knocked down in the streets? Are they to be murdered . . . ?" The colonists called the tragic encounter "the Boston Massacre."